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Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman said he is ready for result-oriented talks with all sides aimed at resolving the Cyprus issue, stressing that future meetings should produce concrete progress rather than be held merely for appearances.
Speaking at a news conference at the presidency after his contacts in New York, Erhurman said he wanted 3+1 or 5+1 meetings capable of delivering successful outcomes.
“We want a 3+1 or 5+1 meeting that will take us toward a solution and achieve a successful result, not one held just for the sake of meeting and taking a photo,” Erhurman said, according to Turkish Agency Cyprus.
Erhurman said the Turkish Cypriot side would continue making every effort in good faith toward a solution and recalled that he had not rejected a trilateral meeting in New York.
“My concern is to make progress,” he said. “Do we want a solution, do we want negotiations? Bringing 19 new items when there are seven points for progress means complicating an already prepared process.”
Erhurman said talks could also be held in Nicosia but stressed that they must be productive.
“We will not negotiate just for the sake of having talks or meetings,” he said. “Let us hold marathon talks in Nicosia and achieve results.”
He said the Turkish Cypriot side would continue explaining its position to all parties and keeping the process on the agenda.
Erhurman said the U.N. secretary-general had expressed a desire to hold a 5+1 meeting following a visit to Cyprus and had outlined seven areas for discussion.
Those issues were crossing points, mine clearance, joint responses to disasters on the island, irregular migration, civil society, sports and children born from mixed marriages.
Erhurman criticized the Greek Cypriot leader for introducing 19 new proposals at the latest meeting while those seven issues remained unresolved.
He said significant work remained and that the Turkish Cypriot side was determined to move the process forward.
Erhurman said they would be ready for meetings when conditions existed for a successful outcome, adding that efforts should remain focused on the seven identified areas.
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